Police Attacks Newroz Celebrators in Batman Province

Scores of people from the southeastern province of Batman started yesterday early celebrations of Newroz, the spring equinox.  

However, a crowded celebration in the city has been intervened by the police yesterday after demonstrators built a huge fire outside the intercity bus terminal - a Newroz tradition. 

Police assaulted Newroz celebrators with tear gas, rubber bullets and cannoned water. While several injuries were reported, injured demonstrators have been hospitalized. 

On the other hand, certain young protestors have responded the police violence with stones.

Akat Ata: Provocation

One of the notable attendees of the demonstrators included Ayla Akat Ata, Peoples’ Democratic Party Batman Province Deputy. Having warned demonstrators to calm down, Ata also protested the police violence.

“Aiming the [planned] Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır province, police have fired gas bombs at 100,000 people in Batman,” she said. 

“This is overtly a provocation and one more time our people will not come to this provocation.”

Celebrated traditionally on March 21, Newroz marks an important folk day in the history of Kurdish people. (YY/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.